A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the key to watching Japanese Netflix from abroad. By connecting to a server in Japan, a VPN allows you to access the platform just as you would if you were physically there.
- Sign up for a VPN. (We highly recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download and open the app, then connect to a server in Japan.
- Log in to your Netflix account and start watching.
Why Can’t I Watch a Specific Title on Netflix?
The library of TV shows and movies on Netflix varies significantly from one country to another. This means a show that is available in Japan might not be accessible from other countries. This is primarily due to content licensing and regional preferences.
Netflix provides the following explanations for why a TV show or movie might not be available in your country:
Why isn’t a TV show or movie available in your country?
There are several reasons a TV show or movie may be available in one country or region but not another, including:
Regional popularity
We do our best to offer titles for a region that we think people there will enjoy. What’s popular with members in the United States may not be in the United Kingdom, even though they’re both English-speaking countries.
Multiple rights owners or rights aren’t available
More than one studio or distributor may own the rights for a title. We may have the rights in Latin America for a movie before it will be available for the United States or Canada on Netflix.
Sometimes a TV show or movie isn’t available in a particular region. We can’t get the rights to a title for a region if no one is selling it or it’s exclusive to another streaming platform.
While we do own the worldwide rights for most Netflix originals, sometimes these titles aren’t available in a country or region for the following reasons:
Source: Netflix Help Center
- The title was created before Netflix was available or able to acquire the exclusive rights.
- Other companies may have the rights to the title for a region.
If you attempt to watch content on Netflix that is not licensed for your current country, you will see an error message screen like the one shown below.
To watch shows and movies exclusive to Japanese Netflix, your internet connection must appear as if it is coming from within Japan.
How a VPN Lets You Watch Japanese Netflix Anywhere
Streaming services like Netflix determine your location based on your IP address, which is a unique identifier for your internet connection. This is how they show you the content library that is specifically licensed for the country you are in.
A VPN works by routing your internet traffic through a private server in a country of your choice. When you connect to a VPN server located in Japan, it effectively masks your real IP address and replaces it with one from Japan.
As a result, Netflix sees the Japanese IP address and grants you access to its complete library of Japanese shows and movies, regardless of your actual physical location.
How to Watch Japanese Netflix from Anywhere with a VPN
Unlocking the complete Japanese Netflix library from abroad is straightforward. By following these three simple steps, you can stream exclusive Japanese content from anywhere in the world.
- Sign up for a VPN. (We highly recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download and open the app, then connect to a server in Japan.
- Log in to your Netflix account and start watching.
Step 1: Sign up for ExpressVPN
To register with ExpressVPN, click the “Claim Exclusive Deal” button as shown below. After the price plan is shown, follow the instructions.
STEP2. Download the app and connect to a Server in Japan
After registering with ExpressVPN, download and launch the app. Next, click “…” in the app and type “Japan” in the search box.
Select a server and click the power icon in the middle. Now, you can connect to a server in Japan.
STEP3. Access Netflix via Japan and Log in
YWith the VPN still connected to a server in Japan, open the Netflix website or app. Netflix should automatically detect your location as Japan.
Before logging in, you can confirm this in a couple of ways:
- Check the URL: Look at the address in your browser. It should include the country code for Japan, like www.netflix.com/jp-en/. In contrast, a connection from New Zealand would show www.netflix.com/nz/.
- Check the Language Menu: The language selection option on the page should now include Japanese (日本語).
If the connection is successful, your screen will look similar to the one below.
Once you’ve confirmed you are on the Japanese version of the site, log in to Netflix with your normal account details, pick a title, and enjoy streaming!
Here are just a few examples of popular anime available on Japanese Netflix:
After checking that you are accessing Netflix from Japan, log in to Netflix, select the content you want to watch, and enjoy!
Here are some anime you can watch on Japanese Netflix.
- A Silent Voice
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Violet Evergarden
- Death Note
- Attack on Titan
- Tokyo Ghoul
- My Hero Academia
- Naruto
The Best VPN Services for Watching Japanese Netflix from Anywhere
Here are some excellent VPN services we recommend.
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | SurfShark | |
| Prices | 1-Month: $13.99 12-Months: $5.99/month 24-Months: $4.49/month | 1-Month: $11.99 12-Months: $4.99/month 24-Months: $3.99/month | 1-Month: $12.95 12-Months: $3.99/month 24-Months: $2.39/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Countries | 105 | 118 | 100 |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 7,000+ | 3,200+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 12 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Connection Speed | Ultra Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Security | AES-256 Kill Switch | AES-256 Kill Switch | AES-256 Kill Switch |
| Privacy | No-logging | No-logging | No-logging |
| Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support |
ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast Internet Speeds
| Prices | 1-Month: $13.99 12-Months: $5.99/month 24-Months: $4.49/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 105 |
| Servers | 3,000+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 12 |
ExpressVPN offers some of the fastest internet speeds among the VPNs we have used. All VPNs may slow down your internet connection, but ExpressVPN is one of the fastest, and you rarely notice the difference. Review sites consistently rank ExpressVPN as one of the fastest VPNs. Additionally, with over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, you have a wide choice of countries to change IP addresses to. Real humans are available 24-hour live chat support to help you with setup and troubleshooting. ExpressVPN also has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered with ExpressVPN, you can use it to easily browse the internet just by downloading their app.
- Excellent speed and stability
- Fast and user-friendly app
- Strict no-logs policy
- Wide range of server countries
- Accepts Bitcoin payments
- Slightly more expensive than competitors
- Place a high importance on internet speed
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
NordVPN: The Ultimate Balance of Price and Internet Speed
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $11.99 12-Months: $4.99/month 24-Months: $3.99/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 118 |
| Servers | 7,000+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 10 |
NordVPN’s excellent service, and balance of price, internet speed, servers, and countries, has allowed it to gain the greatest market share in the world. Overall, NordVPN consistently receives great reviews from leading experts. NordVPN has more than 5,800 servers in 60 countries, so you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. You can et help and advice from our friendly customer support team through email or live chat for your 24/7. And NordVPN also has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using NordVPN just by downloading their app.
- World's most popular VPN by new user subscriptions
- Large number of available servers
- Competitive pricing
- Strict no-logs policy
- User-friendly dedicated apps
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments
- Short-term plans can be relatively costly
- Want to balance price and internet speed
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
Surfshark: Impressive Performance with a Lower Price
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $12.95 12-Months: $3.99/month 24-Months: $2.39/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 100 |
| Servers | 3,200+ |
| Maximum devices supported | Unlimited |
Surfshark offers impressive performance with a lower price. You can get Surfshark much cheaper than other services if you apply for the 24-month plan. Furthermore, Surfshark has no connection limits. So, you and your family can connect and use all your devices simultaneously. Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries. Just like the other VPNs, you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. Customer support experts are there for you 24/7, if you need a helping hand with them via live chat or email. And SurfsharkVPN also has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using Surfshark by downloading their app.
- Affordable price (cheaper than NordVPN & ExpressVPN)
- Unlimited simultaneous connections (ideal for families)
- Large number of available servers
- Speeds comparable to top-tier providers
- Strict no-logs policy
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments
- Less effective at bypassing geo-restrictions
- Limited service history / Less established
- Who are budget conscious and want to want to connect with lots of devices
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
Expand Your Netflix Library with a VPN
A VPN allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and explore Netflix libraries from other countries. This means you can unlock entire collections of popular movies, like the Studio Ghibli and Harry Potter series, that may not be available in your own region due to licensing agreements.
For example, by connecting your VPN to a server in a different country, you can access these exclusive titles.
- Studio Ghibli Movies: The beloved Studio Ghibli catalog is widely available on Netflix in many regions outside of the US and Japan. You can typically find these films by connecting to servers in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, and South Korea.
- Harry Potter Movies: The Harry Potter saga is often available in the Netflix libraries of countries such as Turkey, Germany, Australia, and the UK.
(Note: Netflix’s licensing agreements change frequently, so availability in these regions can vary.)
By connecting to the correct region, you can watch timeless Studio Ghibli classics.
And enjoy the entire magical Harry Potter series.
For more detailed guides on unlocking specific content, please see our articles below.
FAQs
Is It Legal to Use a VPN to Watch Japanese Netflix?
In most countries, using a VPN for privacy and security is perfectly legal.
Do I Need a Separate Japanese Account for Netflix?
No, you do not. Your existing Netflix account works worldwide.
The content library you see is not determined by the country where you registered your account. It is determined by the IP address you are using to access the service. For example, even if you created your account in the Netherlands, if you connect through a VPN server in Japan, Netflix will show you the full Japanese library of content.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Access Japanese Netflix?
While technically possible, using a free VPN to watch Japanese Netflix is highly unreliable and generally not recommended for several reasons:
- Often Blocked: Most free VPNs are easily detected and blocked by Netflix’s advanced systems.
- Lack of Servers: Many free services do not offer servers in Japan, making it impossible to access the Japanese library.
- Poor Performance: Free VPNs are typically slow and have strict data limits, leading to constant buffering and caps on how much you can watch.
- Security Risks: Many free VPN providers log your online activity and may sell your data to third parties to cover their costs, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN for privacy.
For a secure, fast, and reliable streaming experience, a reputable paid VPN is the best choice.
For more details, see our article:
What else can a VPN be used for?
In addition to bypassing geographical content restrictions, a VPN can also enhance your online privacy and security. Furthermore, it can be used to save money on subscription services like YouTube Premium and Netflix by allowing you to subscribe from regions where prices are lower.
Conclusion
In summary, a VPN is the simplest and most effective way to watch Japanese Netflix from anywhere in the world. It not only gives you access to exclusive Japanese anime and movies but also unlocks other geo-restricted content, like the Studio Ghibli and Harry Potter films, by allowing you to connect to servers in various countries.
The process is straightforward:
- Sign up for a VPN. (We highly recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download and open the app, then connect to a server in Japan.
- Log in to your Netflix account and start watching.
Choosing a quality service is the most important step to ensure a smooth and secure experience. For our top recommendations, see the list below.